I’m Ann House, MS, AFC ®
Individual and Couples Financial Counseling
Helping You Succeed and Flourish
Personal Financial Counseling
Get on top of your own finances!
Couples Financial Counseling
Get on top of your family’s finances!
Goal Setting
Goal setting involves identifying clear financial objectives and creating a realistic plan to achieve them over time.
Financial Counseling
Financial counseling provides personalized guidance to help individuals understand their finances, address challenges, and make informed money decisions.
Financial Management
Financial management is the process of organizing, monitoring, and controlling income, expenses, and savings to maintain financial stability.
Budgeting Advice
Budgeting advice helps individuals create and maintain a spending plan that aligns their income with their financial priorities and goals.
What Is Financial Counseling?
Financial Counseling is a collaborative effort between a counselor and client to assist the client to meet their financial goals, and improve their quality of life.
What is a financial counselor?
If you’ve ever looked for a financial professional, you’ve probably encountered unfamiliar acronyms, also known as designations or credentials, following the candidates’ names. CPA, CFP®, CFA®, ChFC®: What do these letters mean and why are they important?
Anyone can call themselves a financial counselor, coach, advisor or planner, but a credential often demonstrates a higher level of education, specialty or commitment. In many cases, the credentialing process is like going to school for a specialized program.
What to expect during the meeting:
In the initial meeting I will tell you how I am compensated working for you, how frequently we will communicate and what your preferred method is (phone, email). I will ask if you have ever talked to someone before about your finances.
You can expect a collaborative and non-judgmental conversation focused on understanding your entire financial picture. You will be asked about your personal values, life events, income, expenses, debts, and your goals.
It may be helpful to have documents ready, such as a budget, spending habits, records of income, debt owed, savings, investing and insurance statements.
Financial well-being?
It is the ultimate goal of financial education. To help people improve their financial well-being, you first must be able to measure it. It’s determined by the extent to which people feel that they:
Have control over day-to-day, month-to-month finances
You know where your money is going each month and can pay your bills on time without stress.
Have the capacity to absorb a financial shock
You have savings or resources set aside to handle unexpected expenses without going into debt.
Are on track to meet his or her financial goals
You are consistently saving and planning in a way that moves you toward your long-term financial goals.
Have the financial freedom to make the choices that allow one to enjoy life
Your finances give you the flexibility to make choices—like travel, time off, or hobbies—without constant money worries.
Working for a Stress Free Life
The American Psychological Association (APA) reported that 72% of Americans are stressed about money. This percentage is even higher in younger adults. As an accredited financial counselor I am dedicated to helping individuals and couples reduce debt and manage shaky finances. I will review your spending, earning, saving, and your financial habits to make proposals on how to create assets and decrease debt. My goal is to teach you how to manage your money effectively and responsibly. Financial management is about creating better behaviors to achieve lifelong successful financial outcomes. Let me help you take control of your financial life.
About Me
I am a certified financial counselor and educator. I worked in higher education for 25 years, including opening the award-winning University of Utah’s Financial Wellness Center. I am now in private practice. I am a published author, professional speaker, featured in several publications, most recently seen in Forbes, and has received numerous state and national awards. My collaborative project, an online debt-reduction calculator, www.powerpay.org is used throughout the world and is endorsed by the U.S. military and the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education®. I worked with the Utah State Legislature and the Utah Department of Education to establish a required general financial literacy course for high school. I am a mother to 3 consumer-savvy adults, an amateur astronomer, kayaker, and adventurer living in New York.
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Testimonials
“For the first time in our married life, we are not fighting about money” – former clients married for over 20 years.
Ann, Thank you again for your help today. I appreciate your time and patience. Warmth+Gratitude” – former client
“You have helped me so much…I always look forward to meeting with you because you make me leave our meetings feeling less stressed about life and money. I feel more empowered. You are so authentic and a fun person to learn from, I never feel judged. You have helped me make goals to reach them. I am so blessed to have found you.” – former client
“I think so much of you…you ALWAYS are thinking about ways to get more money in the hands of students. You’re also a delight to work with in general” –a University colleague
“I met with Ann a few times and in the next 18 months, I was able to pay down my student loans, paid off my car, set money aside for savings, and started an IRA. Ann was the best!” – Former client in her late 20’s.
“Ann is very knowledgeable and has provided many resources for me to improve my budgeting, be more in tune with my credit score, and be more informed when filing my taxes. She directed me to many resources that have also helped to improve my financial health and literacy.” -former client